Tape Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A tape dispenser comprises a body supporting a blade having a base, a point and two blade sides extending from the base to the point, and a plate, the plate located in close proximity to the blade, the blade and the plate each extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body and to the same side of the body. The point of the blade is in the form of a spike, the cross-section of the spike being less than the cross-section of the blade, and the spike including a free end, the free end of the spike including a tape engaging surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tape dispenser, which may be of thetype that attaches to a roll of tape, or of the type in which a roll oftape is situated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tape dispensers are long since known, and are generally available in twodifferent types, one being the type where a roll of tape is mounted on adrum, and that drum is placed in a carriage, which mounts a cuttingblade, and the other being of the type that is mounted on the roll oftape, and is moveable from roll to roll as a user may require.

The dispensing of tape presents a number of problems. The tape tends toadhere to itself, which can make lifting the free end of the tape fromthe roll difficult. Also, known tape dispensers often use blade having aplurality of upstanding serrations which require the tape to be pulleddownwards and sideways to tear a piece of tape from the roll. The resultof so attempting to tear off a piece of tape is a tear line extendinglongitudinally along the tape rather than laterally across.

Another problem associated with known tape dispensers is that in orderto pull more tape off the roll it is necessary to lift the tape at apoint between the blade of the dispenser, upon which the free end of thetape is situated, and the point at which the tape is released fromadherence with the roll. Lifting the tape in this manner can lead to thetape becoming crumpled.

Proposals have been made to solve some of these problems.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,367 (Akira Ikeda) describes a device that is heldonto a roll of adhesive tape with a resilient bearing member such as aspring, and which provides a guide and slot through which the tape isdrawn and cut by a blade.

WO2005/108258 (Pretorius) describes an accessory that is attached to aroll of adhesive tape and held in place on the roll by a spring. A slotis formed in the accessory through which the tape is drawn and pulled toa cutting blade on one side of the slot. After cutting, the adhesiveside of the tape rests on a support surface at the other side of theslot. The cutting blade presents a point. The tape is brought down onthe point and then tears from the centre outwardly to either side of thepoint.

It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,830 and WO02055410 to provide anirregular surface in a tape dispenser in order to reduce adhesion. Boththese documents refer to a dimpled surface.

However, none of the devices described provide a dispenser that issatisfactory, and it would therefore be desirable to provide an improvedtape dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a tape dispenser comprisinga body supporting a blade and a plate located in close proximity to oneanother and each extending laterally with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the body and to the same side of the body, wherein the bladepresents a cutting edge.

The blade and the plate may lie substantially parallel one another.

Advantageously, the blade is non-planar and preferably it includes apoint.

Preferably, the point of the blade is located towards the centre of theblade.

In one embodiment of the invention the blade and the plate extendsubstantially perpendicularly from the body. Advantageously, a firstpart of the plate and the blade each extend in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the body. Preferably, a second part of the plateextends at an angle forward of the axis of the first part of the plateand towards the blade. Preferably, the second part of the plate iscurved or planar.

In another embodiment the plate is inclined with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the body.

Preferably, the plate or the second part thereof extends at an angle inthe range of 45 to 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the body. Morepreferably, the plate or the second part thereof extends at an angle inthe range of 55 to 80 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the body.Still more preferably, the plate or the second part thereof extends atan angle in the range of 60 to 75 degrees to the longitudinal axis ofthe body. Yet more preferably, the plate or the second part thereofextends at an angle in the range of 63 to 72 degrees to the longitudinalaxis of the body. Most preferably, the plate or the second part thereofextends at an angle of 67 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the body.

Advantageously, the plate includes removed portions, which may extendinwardly from the outer edges of the plate.

The plate is advantageously a spring plate. This provides the advantagethat the tape is pulled away from the blade when a piece of tape hasbeen successful separated from the reel.

The tape dispenser preferably includes a spacer adapted to, in use,engage with the tape of a reel of tape on which the dispenser ismounted.

The tape dispenser may include a guide means. The guide means preferablyincludes side members adapted, in use, to engage with the reel of tapeand to limit lateral movement of the dispenser with respect to the reelof tape.

The guide means may include at least one cross-member, extending in alateral direction with respect to the reel of tape, and preferablyacross the reel of tape. The at least one cross-member, with other partsof the guide means, defines an opening through which, in use, the freeend of the reel of tape is drawn. The user draws a piece of tape ofsufficient length through the opening to provide a separated piece oftape of the desired length.

In the case where the dispenser is mounted on a reel of tape, pullingthe tape off the reel has the effect of causing the dispenser to slideon the reel of tape and rotate about the centre of the reel. This due tothe tape engaging with the cross-member and exerting a force thereonsufficient to move the dispenser.

The tape dispenser preferably includes a base which mounts the blade andthe plate. The spacer may be mounted on the base. The guide means mayalso be mounted on the base. Any or all of the aforesaid may befabricated as a plastics moulding, preferably as a one-piece plasticsmoulding, for a plastic such as polypropylene.

Advantageously, the dispenser includes a stretchable flexible element,for example a length of elasticated thread, which in use attaches to thebody of the tape dispenser and extends around the reel of tape. Theelement may include at least one enlarged portion so shaped anddimensioned as to co-operate with and not pass through an opening in thesaid body of the dispenser. The body may include a slot in which theelement is received.

The tape dispenser of the invention, whether in a form that sits upon areel of tape or the form comprising a carriage in which the reel of tapesits, provides distinct advantages over the prior art. Providing apointed blade assists in ensuring that at the point where a piece oftape is separated from the remainder of the tape on the reel, the cut ortear is neat and does not run along the length of the tape, as oftenhappens with tape dispensers of the art. The provision of a plate inconjunction with the blade, and in particular where the plate is aspring plate, the blade is able to separate the desired piece of tapefrom the tape on the reel more easily. This is because the plate allowsa force to be exerted on the tape where the tape engages the blade thatis much greater downward component than is the case with typical tapedispensers. Where the plate is sprung, immediately the tape is cut thatpart of the tape that is still connected to the tape on the reel butlies immediately behind the blade is lifted therefrom, thereby making iteasy for a user to grasp the free end of the tape on the reel toseparate further desired pieces of tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings, FIGS. 1 to 16 illustrate preferred prior art tapedispensers, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the tape dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a rear end view of the tape dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation on the axis B-B of the tapedispenser shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tape dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front end view of the tape dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the tape dispenser illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tape dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1from above;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the tape dispenser illustratedin FIG. 1, attached to a roll of tape;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of another tape dispenser;

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of another tape dispenser;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the tape dispenser illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the tape dispenser illustratedin FIG. 10, viewed from the underside;

FIG. 13 is side view of the tape dispenser illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of another tape dispenser;

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of another tape dispenser;

FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of another tape dispenser;

and wherein preferred embodiments of a tape dispenser according to theinvention are shown, by way of example, in:

FIG. 17 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 a is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment ofa point of the tape dispenser illustrated in FIG. 17; and

FIG. 17 b is front view of the point illustrated in FIG. 17 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a tape dispenser 1 of the typethat is suitable for attachment to a reel of adhesive tape. The tapedispenser 1 is formed of moulded plastics material, and comprises a baseplate 2, one end of which mounts an upwardly extending blade member 8having a point 9, and a downwardly extending spacer member 6, which inuse rests on the surface of the reel of tape.

The other end of the base plate 2 mounts a spring plate 7 and guide 3,which comprises a cross-member 4 and side members 5, 5′. The guide 3limits sideways movement of the dispenser 1 on the reel of tape.

The cross-member 4, the side members 5, 5′ and the rear edge of the baseplate 2 form an opening through which the free end of the tape ispassed.

In the illustrated example, the spring plate 7 is provided with anon-uniform surface comprising a plurality of ribs extending across thesaid surface. The non-uniform surface may be provided by other elements,such as dimples for example. By providing the spring plate with anon-uniform surface an adhesive tape will still adhere thereto, but notas strongly as if the surface were smooth, and hence releasing anadhesive tape from the surface of the spring plate 7 is easier where thesurface is non-uniform than when it is uniformly smooth. However,adhesion of the tape to the spring plate 7 also depends on theproperties of the material from which the plate is formed. For somematerials a smooth surface may function satisfactorily.

The spacer member 6 serves to provide a second point of engagement ofthe dispenser with the reel of tape. By providing the spacer member 6the dispenser is held in a stable position on the reel of tape. In thecase where no spacer member 6 is provided the dispenser 1 may pivotabout the reel when the user applies a force to the tape on the reel toseparate a piece therefrom.

As mentioned above, the blade 8 has a point 9 which, in the illustratedexample, is located substantially centrally. The advantage of locatingthe point 9 of the blade substantially centrally is that the user needpull the tape in only one direction (downward) in order to separate apiece of the tape from the tape on the reel, whereas with a blade thatis flat and perhaps provided with teeth, the tape must be pulleddownward and sideways, which often results in the tape tearinglongitudinally rather than laterally. This presents two problems. First,the piece of tape separated from the reel is not of the desired shape.Second, the free end of the tape on the reel is not square. This oftenleads to the free end of the tape becoming detached from the platesupporting the blade, and hence re-attaching itself to the reel.

As can be seen from the Figures, the blade 8 is curved. It has beenfound that when using a curved blade, rather than a straight blade, theresulting tear is straighter and hence more desirable.

The base plate 2 of the dispenser includes parts 2 a and 2 b of afastening system which comprises an element of elastic thread having astopper at each end thereof. A user fastens the dispenser to a reel oftape by first placing the device 1 onto the reel with the side members5, 5′ to either side of the reel. The user then secures one end of theelastic thread in the part 2 a with one stopper engaging with the part 2a from the underside. The thread is then passed over the top of the reelof tape with the thread locating in the part 2 b, which is in the formof a slot, down the side and underneath the reel of tape and back to thepart 2 a, where the other stopper engages with the part 2 a from theupper side.

Once secured on the reel of tape, the free end thereof is passed throughthe opening 3 a. The tape is pulled backwards against the cross-member4, pulling tape off the reel and causing the device 1 to move around thecircumference of the reel until the user ceases to pull backwards on thetape. The user then pulls the tape towards the blade 8, and in so doingpulls the tape towards the spring plate 7. With the tape engaged withthe spring plate 7, the piece of tape is held away from the reel so thatit may easily be detached by the user pulling the tape downward on theblade 8. The point 9 pierces the tape which then tears from the positionof the point 9 to the outer edges of the tape. The spring plate 7 exertsa force on the tape which keeps it taught as the user pulls downward onthe tape against the blade. The combination of the spring plate 7 andthe close proximity of the blade 8 assist in ensuring a neat separationof the piece of tape from the reel, as does the substantially centrallylocated point of the blade. The result is a separated piece of tape thatis neatly cut. Also, the free end of the tape is presented in such a waythat another piece thereof may be separated easily from the reel. Thisis because the tape is held in place on the spring plate 7, and a shortlength of tape extends beyond the end of the spring plate 7.

To remove tape from the reel subsequently the user grasps the shortlength of tape extending between the spring plate 7 and the blade 8 andlifts the tape upward. The user may then pull the tape off the reel inthe manner described above, and repeat the process.

The tape dispenser 8 also includes a slot 10 which may be adapted forcutting.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the tape dispenser 1 is illustrated mounted ona reel of tape 11. As can be seen, the dispenser 1 is attached to thereel of tape 11 by means of a length of elasticated thread 12, whichinclude enlarged portions 13 a, 13 b for engagement in the opening 2 a.

FIG. 9 illustrates a tape dispenser of the type including a carriage 14in which sits a drum 15 on which a reel of tape 16 is mounted. Thecarriage 14 also mounts a spring plate 17 and a blade 18 having a point19. As will be appreciated from the drawing, the guide means 5 is notnecessary in this embodiment, nor is any flexible element needed as thereel of tape sits in the tape dispenser, rather than the tape dispensersitting on the reel of tape.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 13, there is shown an alternativeembodiment of the invention. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 to13 functions in a substantially similar manner to that illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 7. However, the base plate 2 includes walls 20, 21, 22 and 23(and 20′ to 23′) extending downwardly therefrom to each side of the baseplate in pairs. The distance between the walls of respective pairs 20,20′ to 22, 22′ correspond substantially to the widths of commonlyavailable rolls of tape. Also, the distance below the base plate 2 atwhich the walls 20, 20′ to 22, 22′ terminate are selected to match therespective diameters of commonly available rolls of tape, and aredetermined such that the tape dispenser 1 sits on the roll of tapesubstantially as shown in FIG. 8 in the way that spacer 6 does in theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7. It will be noted that the walls23, 23′ share a common axis with side members 5, 5′, and serve tomaintain the dispenser 1 in the desired position on the roll of tape.

The tape dispenser 1 illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13 also includes slots24, 24′ and 25, 25′ to receive the thread 12. It will be noted that thistape dispenser includes additional parts 2 a′ and 2 b′ arranged toreceive the thread 12. The tape dispenser 1 may therefore be attached toa roll of tape in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8, or the thread may bewrap around the tape dispense twice, lying in all four slots 2 a, 2 a′,2 b and 2 b′.

The angle between the guide 3 and the longitudinal axis of the body 2may be approximately 140 degrees.

It can also be seen from FIGS. 10 to 13 that the spring plate may beplanar rather than curved and arranged at an angle of approximately 67degrees to the longitudinal axis of the body 2 or the dispenser 1. Theangle of 67 degrees may be adjusted, for example, according to theheight to the blade.

Referring now to FIG. 14, the tape dispenser 1 is moulded from arelatively hard plastics material. This is advantageous in that thepoint 9 of the blade 8 does not wear as quickly as where the tapedispenser 1 is moulded from a softer plastics material. However, it hasbeen found that increasing the hardness of the plastic materialincreases the springiness of the spring plate 7 causing the free end ofthe tape to rebound on to itself post cutting. Since the object of theinvention is to provide for more convenient cutting of tape such aresult is undesirable. The springiness of the spring plate 7 maytherefore be reduced by forming the spring plate of a softer plasticsmaterial than the blade part of the tape dispenser. However, it has alsobeen found that the springiness of the spring plate 7 may be reducedwhere the spring plate is formed of the same harder plastics material asthe blade 8, and in fact the whole dispenser 1. The result may beachieved by forming slots 7′ or otherwise cutting away material at thebase of the spring plate 7.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the tape dispenser includes a metallic element9′ having a shape corresponding to the shape of the blade 8 and thepoint 9. The function of the metallic element is to provide improvedcutting, as the metallic element can be made sharp and further theyremain sharp for longer than plastics materials. The metallic elementmay be attached to one surface of the blade 8 or may be formed withinthe blade 8.

Polypropylene has been found to be a particularly suitable material fromwhich to manufacture the tape dispenser. Using this material the springplate provides the required amount of springiness, without the need toform slots in, or otherwise cut away material from the spring plate 7,whilst also providing a good service life.

Experiments show that with the tape dispenser formed of polypropylene,the spring plate 7 illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13, having a thickness of0.5 mm and extending to a vertical height of 13 mm at an angle of 67degrees, deflects by 2 mm towards the blade 8 and 2 mm towards the baseplate 2, when the tape is pulled downwards to engage the blade 8, andthat the force required to bring the tape into engagement with the blade8 is between 115 to 200 grams. The experiments were performed on anumber of different samples, the variation in required force beingaccounted for by manufacturing tolerances. The force exerted on thespring plate 7 is stored within the spring and released when the tape iscut. The stored force is sufficient to pull the tape away from the bladeand hold it in a position above the blade 8, yet is not sufficient tocause the tape to flick back onto itself.

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the tape dispenserwhere the metallic element 9″ is a rod embedded into the blade 8 asillustrated in FIG. 16.

Referring now to FIG. 17, an embodiment having a point 9 of modifiedshape is illustrated. In this embodiment rather than the blade 8 comingto a point 9 through a gradual and continuous reduction in thickness ofthe material from which the blade is formed, the point 9 includes a partof reduced thickness forming a spike 9 a. The wall 9 b of the spike 9 aproximate the plate 7 in the illustrated example lies on the same planeas the wall 8 a of the blade 8 that is proximate the plate 7, whereasthe wall 9 c of the spike 9 a distal from the plate 7 lies closer to theplate 7 than the wall 8 b of the blade 8. The wall 9 c is concave,providing a gradually reducing thickness of the spike 9 a. The curvedshape of concave wall 9 c is shown as a continuous curve. However, theconcave wall 9 c could be formed by a plurality of planar surfaces.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 17, the spike 9 a does not come to asharp point, but has a substantially flat surface 9 d. In theillustrated example of FIG. 17, the flat surface 9 d lies substantiallyparallel to the body 2. The area of the flat substantially flat surface9 d is sufficiently small that the spike may still function to piercetape, in particular in conjunction with the other elements of thedispenser.

The effect of the spike is to create a hole in the tape as the tape ispulled downward. The tape then tears sideways from the so formed hole.It has been found that by forming the point 9 of the blade as a spike abetter separation of tape is accomplished. Further, it has been foundthat by forming the point 9 into a spike 9 a, the tip of the point canbe somewhat thicker than the tip of the point in FIG. 4 for example.This forms a stiffer point 9. Still further, again looking at FIG. 4, inuse, as the tape to be separated from the reel is pulled downward overthe point 9 of the blade the tape engages with the curved part of thefront of the blade 8. The force exerted by the user is therefore reactedby bending of the blade towards the plate 7. By forming the point 9 intoa spike 9 a, the initial piercing of the tape occurs more rapidly andwith less force applied. Once the tape has been pierced, it is easier totear.

FIG. 17 a illustrates in detail the cross-section of an alternativeshape of spike 9 a. The point 9 is formed into a spike 9 a by reducingthe thickness of blade 8 at the apex thereof, as with the otherembodiment illustrated in FIG. 17. However, instead of the reduction inthickness being a gradual and continuous one, the reduction is made intwo steps. The first, reduction in thickness of the blade is provided inthe blade below the base of the spike 9 a, generating a slanting surface9 e. The spike 9 a is formed by a wall 9 f extending upward and the wall8 a of the blade 8, the walls 8 a and 9 f being substantially parallel,and a slanting surface 9 g, and terminates in an end face 9 d′. The endface 9 d′ is smaller in surface area than the surface 9 d in the otherFIG. 17 embodiments, i.e. it is more pointed. Instead of the wall 9 ebeing a planar surface lying on an angle, the wall 9 e could be curved.

In FIG. 17, the sides 8 c of the blade 8 are straight. However, they mayequally be curved as in the other figures in this specification. Thesides 8 c of the blade need not be sharp. Where the sides 8 c of theblade are blunt, which is advantageous from the perspective of safety,the sides 8 c serve to guide the line of tearing of the tape as the teargrows from the hole created by the spike 9 a.

1. A tape dispenser comprising a body supporting a blade having a base,a point and two blade sides extending from the base to the point, and aplate, the plate located in close proximity to the blade, the blade andthe plate each extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axisof the body and to the same side of the body, wherein the point of theblade is in the form of a spike, wherein cross-section of the spike isless than the cross-section of the blade, wherein the spike includes afree end, the free end of the spike including a tape engaging surface.2. A tape dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the tape engagingsurface is flat and substantially parallel with said body.
 3. A tapedispenser according to claim 1, wherein the blade, the point and thespike are formed in a unitary component and one face of the spike isconcave.
 4. A tape dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a slantingsurface extends from an edge of the tape engaging surface to a walldefining the concave face of the spike.
 5. A tape dispenser according toclaim 1, wherein the concave face of the spike is defined by a curvedwall.
 6. A tape dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the concave faceof the spike is defined by a plurality of planar walls.
 7. A tapedispenser according to claim 1, wherein the blade and the spike includewalls and the walls of the blade and the spike to one side of the platelie in the same plane, and the walls of the blade and the spike to theother side of the plate lie on different planes.
 8. A tape dispenseraccording to claim 7, wherein the walls of the blade and the spikeproximate the plate lie in the same plane and the walls of the blade andthe spike distal from the plate lie on different planes.
 9. A tapedispenser according to claim 1, wherein the point is located towards thecentre of the blade.
 10. A tape dispenser according to claim 1, whereinthe blade sides are straight.
 11. A tape dispenser according to claim 1,wherein the blade sides are curved.
 12. A tape dispenser according toclaim 1, wherein the spike includes a part of the blade sides.
 13. Atape dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the spike includes ametallic element.
 14. A tape dispenser according to claim 1, wherein theblade extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the body.15. A tape dispenser according to claim 1, wherein at least a part ofthe plate lies at an angle inclined towards the blade.
 16. A tapedispenser according to claim 1, wherein the plate is a spring plate. 17.A tape dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the part of the plateinclined towards the blade extends at an angle of one of: the range of45 to 90 degrees; the range of 55 to 80 degrees; the range of 60 to 75degrees; the range of 63 to 72 degrees; and 67 degrees to thelongitudinal axis of the body.
 18. A tape dispenser according to claim16, wherein: the plate includes removed portions.
 19. A tape dispenseraccording to claim 18, wherein the removed portions comprise slotsextending inwardly from the outer edges of the plate.
 20. A tapedispenser according to claim 1, further including a spacer adapted to,in use, engage with the tape of a reel of tape on which the dispenser ismounted.
 21. A tape dispenser according to claim 1, further including aguide means, wherein the guide means includes side members adapted, inuse, to engage with the reel of tape and to limit lateral movement ofthe dispenser with respect to the reel of tape.
 22. A tape dispenseraccording to claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a stretchableflexible element, which in use attaches to the body of the tapedispenser and extends around the reel of tape
 23. A tape dispenseraccording to claim 22, including at least one enlarged portion so shapedand dimensioned as to co-operate with and not pass through an opening inthe said body of the dispenser.